[Tejas@perioimpl]

First and foremost, what is I4WDTA?

It's the International 4 Wheel Drive Trainers' Association.

It's been more than a year to get to what i have achieved today and this is my story.

Before i start, i want to share with everyone the new revised logo of the association. It makes me immensely proud to see the Indian National Flag right in the middle of the corporate logo.



I'm going to break the story into multiple sub topics below.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

About the I4WDTA

I'm just copying from the website to make it easier to read.

Source: www.i4wdta.org

The I4WDTA Mission Statement
The mission of the I4WDTA is to promote environmentally responsible, safe, and skilled 4WD use by certifying 4WD instructors that have a proven ability to transfer knowledge and skills to 4WD users through the most up to date training curriculum.

Environmental Stewardship
The I4WDTA emphasizes and promotes environmental stewardship with all aspects of 4WD training. The I4WDTA recognizes the importance of environmental awareness education in order to better ensure the continued wise and responsible use of our lands.

Contact
The I4WDTA is headquartered in the USA; with the main office in Ohio. The European Office is located in Germany.

Headquarters
I4WDTA®
International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers Association®, LLC
1035 Gulf Rd Elyria, OH 44035 , USA
Phone: (440) 823-8532

Europe Representative Office
I4WDTA® (Europe)
International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers Association®, LLC
Gladbacher Str. 606
DE - 41748 Viersen, Germany
Phone: +49 (2162) 355120

[Tejas@perioimpl]

What does the I4WDA do?

- Training for certification
- Trainer Certification
- Train the trainer program
- Continuing education
- 4WD Safety
- 4WD Training Standards
- 4WD Training Media
- Facility Certification
- Emergency Management Driver Training
- Military Driver Training

I4WDTA Training for Certification Program
Once you have met the application requirements you will be able to attend the I4WDTA Training for Certification Program. The Training for Certification Program is an intensive three day course that includes approximately 15 hours in the class room and approximately 15 hours in the field.

All too often candidates possess knowledge of their particular favorite brand of 4WD vehicle and /or also possess detailed knowledge of the particular types of trails they drive in their area. Although this is valuable information, as an I4WDTA Certified Trainer, you need to be knowledgeable with a broad range of vehicle types, different vehicle 4WD systems, and different terrain types, for example.

The I4WDTA Training for Certification Program is designed to provide candidates with this broad base of knowledge so that as an I4WDTA Certified Instructor you are able to train customers regardless of terrain type, vehicle type, etc. This distinguishes I4WDTA Certified Instructors from other 4WD instructors.

The purpose behind the I4WDTA Training for Certification Program is to provide potential candidates with an in depth and broad understanding of subjects, including but not limited to, Adult Education, Environmental Awareness, Navigation, Introduction to 4WD, 4WD Skills, 4WD Systems, Traction Aids, Vehicle Recovery, Recovery Resistance Calculations, and Trail Repair.

The significant benefit of being a member of the I4WDTA is that you are part of a large and international group of certified 4WD trainers. The I4WDTA has members throughout the US and also in many other parts of the world and this gives the I4WDTA the advantage of being able to benefit from other certified trainers that have expertise with different vehicles, different terrain types, etc. This broad and international knowledge base forms the foundation of our Training for Certification Program.

How do I become an I4WDTA certified Trainer?
To be a member of the I4WDTA, one must have extensive and considerable 4WD experience and knowledge; one must have at least 3 years of verifiable teaching experience and preferably adult teaching experience. In addition one must have a valid driver license preferably for vehicles all kinds, basic First Aid/CPR certification or higher. If you are 21 years or older and meet these requirements follow these steps:

Print and fill out the Application, sign and mail it to the address on the form along with the Application fee, a copy of your First-Aid certificate, your resume, and your curriculum for a one-day 4-wheel drive class. Once your application has been received, processed and approved you will be informed about your current status as an ICT (I4WDTA® Candidate Trainer). As from the date of this notification onwards candidates enjoy a preparation period of max 12 months to prepare themselves for the written and field examinations. Membership dues are being charged from now on pro rata base. For said period of time Candidate Trainers are so called passive members until they become certified by the I4WDTA®. We will contact you and co-ordinate with whom you will need to set up an appointment to take the written and field evaluations.
Fulfill the evaluation testing requirements, which includes a 200-question written exam and a stringent field evaluation. Your score on the written and field exercises will be combined. Your professional training history will be evaluated and verified. Your First-Aid certification will be verified. Once all of this information is confirmed, you will be notified about your membership. Dues will be pro-rated from November of each year. There are additional stringent requirements for Master Level certification. For more information, please contact us at i4wdta@i4wdta.de.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

I4WDTA Trainer Certification
The teachers that teach our children algebra are certified teachers. Why not pick a certified trainer for your 4WD needs?

Our goal is to deliver the best training possible. So the I4WDTA went through an extensive process to create a four hour written exam and a four hour practical exam, both of which must be passed in order to be certified as an I4WDTA instructor.

Our goal is to ensure the best possible training from the best possible trainers. We achieve this by requiring all those that are I4WDTA certified have passed an intensive written and practical exam, and to have also met many additional requirements.

The I4WDTA Train the Trainer Program
For large commercial companies whose employees use 4WD vehicles on a daily basis, the I4WDTA has a “Train the Trainer” program. The I4WDTA will develop a curriculum specifically tailored for you and then train selected employees to become 4WD trainers within your company.

The I4WDTA will then monitor your trainers and also provide continuing education programs for your trainers thereby ensuring your company employees are properly trained.

Continuing Education Program
Continuing Education is critical to providing customers with the most up to date information and training. The I4WDTA has the distinct advantage of having members throughout the world involved in all aspects of 4WD training in all types of terrain with a wide range of vehicle types and with a wide range of customers.

Our customers include private recreational groups, military Special Forces, large commercial companies, emergency management personnel, auto manufacturers and more. With our ability to network and share our knowledge our I4WDTA Certified Trainers are not only able to expand their knowledge base, but also able to stay current with emerging technologies and equipment relevant to the 4WD industry.

In addition to our I4WDTA Certified Trainers networking with one another, the I4WDTA has meetings twice a year where new technologies, equipment, vehicle 4WD systems, etc. are discussed and examined. The I4WDTA is a member of SEMA, which also helps keep our I4WDTA Certified Trainers abreast of all types of new equipment relevant to the 4WD industry.

Our goal is to develop continuing education programs for our I4WDTA Certified Trainers on the latest 4WD equipment and technologies available. This enables us to keep our knowledge and training up to date and thereby better serve our customers.

This pursuit of “Excellence in 4WD Training” by the I4WDTA, including our efforts at continuing education and keeping up to date with emerging technologies and equipment, ensure that you get the best and most up to date training when you use an I4WDTA Certified Trainer for your 4WD training.

I4WDTA Emergency Management Driver Training
Emergency Managers and First Responders are typically required to work in austere conditions and under severe time constraints. Extreme weather, floods, poor road conditions, lack of infrastructure, injured personnel requiring evacuation, are among a few of the challenges they face on a day to day basis.

As such, not only is proper vehicle preparation critical, but driving skills, recovery skills, and being able to survive in order to ensure that others survive is paramount.The I4WDTA appreciates the services our Emergency Managers and First Responders provide. The I4WDTA is able to provide you with the specialized training required to efficiently and safely perform your duties.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Why should I become an I4WDTA certified Trainer?
The I4WDTA firmly believes in promoting and striving to continually achieve the highest training standards possible. To that end we have a program that certifies 4WD trainers.

Experts need to be knowledgeable and skilled in their particular field of expertise – in their subject matter field.

Educators, on the other hand, need to be knowledgeable and skilled in their field of expertise, as wells as skilled in being able to teach their subject matter [field of expertise] to others.

The I4WDTA recognizes the importance to our customers of getting the best possible 4WD training.

Once you have met the application requirements and passed the written examination and the practical examination, you have the assurance, knowledge, and teaching ability to better meet your customers’ needs.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

So how did i get involved?

My search started over two years ago.

As most of you offroaders know, offroading is at a very nascent stage in India.

Anywhere abroad, there are local associations and bodies including government ones which regulate the sport, provide guidelines, etc

Now, i know that offroading as a sport is predominated in a few countries like USA, UK, Most European countries, South Africa, Australia, South East Asia to name a few.

So i shortlisted English speaking countries or where English is one of the major spoken languages and started googling.

I found the following major organisations:

BORDA

LANTRA

SANOTA

DSA

ORBA

4WDGA

AAWDC

[Tejas@perioimpl]

In the meanwhile, most of you guys may be aware that we started a company called Offroad Junkie.

As Offroad Junkie, we've had a few public events like 3 Toyota Fortuner Bootcamps, Mercedes Offroad event and we had done a lot of private testing for companies as well. Due to privacy agreements, we cannot divulge the names of the cars we have tested but they are 60% of 4x4s sold in India. And that says a lot. One was the VW Touareg that we tested for Autocar to validate the claim and that article did appear in the magazine recently.

Here are some thread on the events:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ex...-ml-class.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ex...boot-camp.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-ex...4wd-track.html

Here's the VW Touareg publication:













So, as Offroad Junkie grew, we needed to do more and become different.

Many times whenever i travelled abroad, i always wanted to go and check out the local offroading scene. However, there was no clear place to ask. One had to google and find out local clubs and then ask if you could accompany them. But that did not yield good results since i could be anybody and not a known person.

That got me thinking and i started finding out names of clubs. Then as Offroad Junkie (i already had my website up) i wrote to clubs proposing a mutual partnership. What i proposed was that we would mutually recommend known persons traveling to a the other person's country and they would take them along for an outing if it was planned during those dates.

Many people did not reply but a few did. Now we are tied up with a couple of clubs in US, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, etc.

Now that i have gotten my I4WDTA credentials, a lot more options have opened up and i need to start exploring those.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

So out of the one club that i wrote to in New Zealand, a person by the name of Peter Vahry did respond.

A bit about Peter:

UFWDA international vice-president www.ufwda.org
4x4 Challenges NZ treasurer
NZFWDA life member
Auckland 4WD Club secretary
Public Access NZ (PANZ) trustee

He was very welcoming and was surprised to learn about that we have an active offroading scene in India and was keen to know more. So i referred him to team-bhp and said this is where most of the action gets posted.

I frankly did not expect him to go through the forum, but he did. This is my conversation with him on email: (this is sometime in Oct 2011).

Hello Tejas, thanks for your email and you raise an interesting idea. Besides being with the Auckland 4WD Club, I'm also the international vice president of the international organisation United Four Wheel Drive associations Inc. www.ufwda.org.

We've been aware that there is interest in four wheeling in India but not managed to find contacts. Through UFWDA the 'visitor' concept could become quite practical, as I know from my own travels to the USA and Australia there is always someone willing to show me the local 4x4 areas.

Is there any form of 'national' 4x4 organisation in India or is it simply too big to attempt that? If your group are interested in membership of UFWDA, I'd certainly make them most welcome.

As far as the Auckland 4WD Club, we'd be happy too to assist visiting four wheelers... just another excuse to go places!

Regards
Peter Vahry
Auckland 4WD Club secretary
UFWDA international vice-president

So i sent him the team-bhp link and a brief background about offroading in India. This was his reply:

Hello Tejas, that 4x4 forum looks remarkably familiar with the pattern of discussions!
I've sent a note to the Auckland 4WD Club committee to get confirmation of the suggestion to exchange website links.

4x4 event management can certainly become a bit of a monster. I have been a part of the 'winch challenge' event proccess here in NZ since 2000 and also run an annual community fundraising event. I'm a past president of the NZFWDA www.nzfwda.org.nz and a few months ago stepped away from 15 continuous years on the NZFWDA national executive council.

I've been involved with the international group UFWDA for ten years now and we have the national 4x4 bodies of NZ, Australia and Southern Africa as members. Combine that knowledge with the US scene and it makes a good resource. A lot of our effort is put into ensuring that some land continues to be available for vehicle use as the environmental movement continues to apply pressure.

As far as joining UFWDA, it is simple. International organisations pay an annual membership fee of US$100. We do all of our publishing via the web now, so that means easy and fast distribution of material.
If your offroad junkie group would like to join, just let me know and I will get our membership director to generate an invoice. UFWDA accept the major credit cards if that might help... I know that most of our international members use that method of payment.

By the way, I liked your note on diabetics in the forum, my club could have used that advice a few years back when they called a helicopter out to a remote spot and yet a bit of sugar was all that was needed!

Regards
Peter

I was surprized that he actually went and read the Offroading Protocols and Code of Conduct thread of mine:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/4x4-of...e-conduct.html

The good news was now we had our first international affiliation as well and put India firmly on the international offroad map. I acknowledge that Arka also has done his bit in getting Sri Lankans to India for the TPC and i have learnt an immense deal from him and many others whom i kept PMing in my early days.
Ofcouse UBS is definitely up there who is also featured on the CJ3B page as well.

Hi Tejas, the Auckland 4WD Club committee have welcomed the idea of a link and the concept of building relationships.... you may have started something!

I'll talk with our webmaster about posting your link.

Regards
Peter

So coming back to the topic of I4WDTA, i asked Peter about guidelines, etc on how i could get to do something.

It was he who suggested the UFWDA. On the UFWDA page i saw something about I4WDTA and that piqued my curiosity and i was back on my keyboard googling about it.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

On googling, i found some information about I4WDTA.

From what i gathered, it started in the US and grew to Europe. It was the only organisation that had exams and the examinations were very stringent.

You could apply only if you passed the qualifying criteria first and after that they gave you one year to prepare for the exams.

This seemed something i was interested in.

Being a dentist, i knew the importance of continuing education as well as a certification. Patients wanted to know what degrees i had and where i had done my further studies from. I also understand the importance of gaining good knowledge rather than just attending a course and getting a certification.

Therefore, i wrote my first email to the contact us email on the I4WDTA website.

I gave a background about myself and offroading in India and asked the million dollar question:

Coming to my query: is there a way we can get associated / affiliated or become a member? Your membership criteria states that we need to give a written and field exam. Since you have no presence in India, how do we go about this?

Thanks and regards,

Tejas

On the same day i got a reply:

Dear Tejas,

greetings from Germany and USA. My Name is Dirk Nagel and I am Vice President International of the I4WDTA, responsible for the international development.

I copy two gentlemen which are Mr. Chris Cole being the current President of the I4WDTA and Mr. Bill Burke, being founding member and currently member of the board of Directors.

Thank you very much for your interest in our association. Of course there is a way to become member as it is important for us to deliver the best possible training through our members worldwide. It would be a pleasure to welcome you onboard. The requirements are already mentioned on our website so I presume these are clear already.

Usually our field exam and the written test takes place in an ORP near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania USA. We can mutually arrange a date at your convenience, most likely with some other candidates also from Germany.

If you have any further question please do not hesitate and contact me anytime.

with best regards / mit freundlichen Grüßen

Dirk Nagel
- VP Intl. -

And the ball was set rolling.

I replied that coming to the States was out of the question since it did not make financial sense. However, i told him that i was in Germany usually every alternate year and could club it up with exams if held in Germany.

This conversation was around early 2012.

They replied positively since there were other queries from Australia, Holland, Uk, Sweden, etc and they could hold an exam in Germany and fly in people from the states.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

From here on there were a series of communications whereby i had to show my offroading skills as an offroader and a teacher. My posts on team-bhp helped a lot and they could go through it.

I needed to send my CV, an outline of a course proposal if i held one in India etc. Also the pics of the Mercedes and Fortuner events on my page helped. Also the previous two EXAMM events we conducted also showcased organisational abilities.

Dear Tejas,

The I4WDTA well received your payment of the USD ***,- application fee. Many thanks. I am now off in the woodland for another fortnight and can revert with details only beyond 20th of June. If there is something urgent from your side Chris is available meanwhile. Your documents, vita and professional 4WD background is well noted in the meantime. Also the board checked the website from offroadjunkie.com which is impressing as well.

All directors are currently in high business season and we need some days to evaluate and to process everything in detail. Please do not worry, you will be automatically notified within a fortnight give or take and once the board has met again and decided.

Up to now you have fulfilled all formal requirements for the application and we have well received all documents including the curriculum for an off road training class. So please stay tuned and await our next mail. Thanks you very much.

with best regards / mit freundlichen Grüßen

Dirk Nagel
- VP Intl. -

There were impromptu chats and brief online exams and all the data was analysed and sent to US and they approved me becoming a passive member of the association. I paid my fees via paypal and become the first 'Candidate Trainer' from Asia.

Hi Tejas,

We are glad to inform you that you fulfill the preconditions to become an I4WDTA certified Trainer. You are already listed on our website. Please see following link: http://www.i4wdta.org/html/i4wdta_ca...e_trainer.html

It would be great if you could add a link from www.offroadjunkie.com also to our website. I attached 2 Logos for you which pls do not amend. The Link text should be “Excellence in 4WD Training”. Thank you.

In the meantime we will provide you with further information about what you need to know and to study in order to succeed the written test. You will receive a short list of books we recommend for you education shortly. On the other hand please make sure to do regular trainings and to remain informed about actual developments in the 4WD industry.

If you need any support or help please feel free to contact us anytime. The testing is so far scheduled for spring 2013. We will keep you advised.

with best regards / mit freundlichen Grüßen

Dirk Nagel
- VP Intl. -

[Tejas@perioimpl]

One of the requirements to become a trainer was also being certified as a first aid provider. Not basic first aid but proper paramedic training.

Thus, the search for that certification started.

Recommended was wilderness survival and ITLS.



International Trauma Life Support is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education in managing out-of-hospital trauma situations. International Trauma Life Support was formed in 1982 as Basic Trauma Life Support. The organization renamed itself to International Trauma Life Support to highlight its focus on become an international standard. The educational materials presented by this organization are taught to EMTs and Paramedics across the United States and internationally.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...a_Life_Support

Website of ITLS: http://www.itrauma.org

I found a provider in Mumbai and started the course.

Read a wonderful book by John Campbell:



Did the course and sat for the exams. I was the only dentist in the batch. Rest were MBBS/MD/MS mostly from Oil fields, mines etc. The providers were surprised that i wanted to attend this as an offroader. They wanted me to take the basic life support course saying the ITLS is tough and passing is 80% in the MCQs which are extremely tough. Nevertheless i did it and was very happy that i came 3rd in my class of 20 (overall in terms of practicals and theory).

So one certification in the bag. Wilderness courses were non existent here (atleast i could not find them). Therefore i asked Dirk for advice. He recommended some good books that i ordered from Amazon and read through them.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

My Germany trip scheduled for March 2013 got cancelled and i informed I4WDTA that we can have the training in may-june 2013 since weather would also be good and i would be flying down especially for this.

A few emails went back and forth between all participants and June first week was finally decided.

The list of books sent to us:

Hi all,

the I4WDTA recommends to carefully study some books for your further training and test preparation. Many but not all questions of the test are based on the contents of these books.

a) The Jeep owners bible by Moses Ludel – www.bentleypublishers.com
b) Be Expert with Map and Compass – The Orienteering Handbook by Björn Hellström – ISBN 002029265-1
c) Four Wheelers Bible – www.motorbooks.com - ISBN 9780760335307
d) Survival and First Aid guide of the elite troops by Chris Mc Nab – ISBN 361350417-0 (or equivalent guidebook)
e) The 4 wheel drive Handbook by Ken Sibly – ISBN 187725124-0

We furthermore recommend to carefully study the manuals, handbooks and descriptions of your outdoor and recovery gear such as Hi Lift and its accessories, Winches e.g. from Warn, Ramsey or other brands etc. You need to know typical abbreviations such as WLL SWL etc. If you need any assistance please let us know.

Meanwhile you are also kindly invited to provide local news about developments of the 4wd industry in your area or country. If you have a special trick or skill or maybe a unique solution for a recovery problem, i.e. how to the trick, we would be happy to learn from you as well.

It could be anything you consider being worthwhile for all I4WDTA members because this is a base concept: establishing a worldwide network of experts and knowledge and to learn from each other.

Many thanks and look forward to meet you all.

with best regards / mit freundlichen Grüßen

Dirk Nagel
- VP Intl. -

[Tejas@perioimpl]

Books were ordered.

Started to study them and putting it all to practice. So used to go and validate what i had read. Allan and Amol helped me prepared for the practicals as well.

People who have been following the Offroad Junkie facebook page would remember seeing the tips that i used to put up daily. Those were a part of what i kept studying. So i though i would educate others while i educated myself.

It was difficult though.

Learning wilderness survival. Going to a forest and trying to practice stuff. Making a fire in rain, building a shelter, getting drinking water from your own urine and stuff like that. Many of my school friends with a background in camping helped me here.

Then came map reading. One can't get a decent compass here. So again ordered a compass, trying to find maps was difficult. So download maps from other countries sometime and practiced on those. Trying to find the direction using the sun, etc.

Sitting with the local mechanic at the garage and learning how to open up stuff and do minor trail repairs was fun though.

But, yeah got it sorted finally and the day to leave approached.

Here's a shot of a few books. Disregard the Biggles on top. Was my favourite book since school days and i still buy them and read them if i see them anywhere.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

I have a very good friend staying in Munich and she insisted that i have to spend some time with them. So i fly in a few days early and stay at their place. She and her husband take me around Munich and we do the usual tourist stuff like going to BMW world, see castles, visit must see food and drink places. Fun days it was catching up with her after probably 10 years.













I love the food in Germany (having studied there in 2002 and being going there every alternate year for dental conferences).







Ofcourse no trip can be complete without visiting the local offroad / camping store:



Soon i need to leave for the training grounds which is far up North which is nearly a day's train ride. I get dropped off to the station for the most exciting part of the trip.

[Tejas@perioimpl]

A bit about the training area:

The training grounds were an ex-tank training facility that got converted into a offroad park. It's called Fursten Forest.

From their website: http://www.furstenforest.de/FurstenF...tenForest.aspx

about:
Close to the pitoresque town of Fürstenau lies Fursten Forest; a 400 acres leisure park where you can enjoy the relaxing (or exciting) combination of nature and adventure. Up until 2008 Fursten Forest used to be a training facility for the German army. The barracks and the rough terrain now have a new function as an outdoor recreational park.

In this leisure park it is possible to drive around in a tank, quad, Hummer or 4 wheel drive through the roughest terrain imaginable. Or have a go at your friends or colleagues in a round of paintball! Everything is possible!

Fursten Forest is not only the perfect place for a relaxing stay in a beautiful and natural environment, but hosts perfect opportunities to organize a succesful meeting, party or event as well.

A few pics from their website and facebook page:













Dirk Nagel, the international I4WDTA president, through his company had Landways had booked the place for our training and examinations. Dirk and his wife Stephania had done exemplary arrangements for us!